HHS - Key Persons
Benjamin C. Unger was born in Florence, Alabama, but grew up in Franklin, North Carolina. He acquired his Bachelor of Arts in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing from Appalachian State University. He then obtained his Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School.
Ben practices in the areas of real estate and estate administration, and speaks both English and Spanish. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, and is a member of the Gaston County Bar Association. He and his family are members of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
Carol was born and grew up in Wilmington, Ohio, but spent each summer in Gastonia on her grandfather's horse farm, then known as Nolen Stables. After graduating from Ohio University cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Carol moved to Gastonia.
Carol graduated from Duke University's Paralegal Education Program and became a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal that same year. She has worked as a real estate paralegal for over ten years.
Carol strives to help clients feel at ease when starting the closing process by maintaining clear communications with all parties involved. Her top priority is to make closing a pleasant experience for everyone.
When she's not working, Carol likes spending time with her parents, her son, Marvin, and her sweet, fat cat, Seth Thomas. She also enjoys visiting art and history museums, painting, drawing, writing, listening to music, and singing in her church choir.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- of Counsel
- Member of the Gaston County Bar Association
Charlton K. Torrence, III is an Attorney, of Counsel at Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC. He has an extensive background of legal work with Estate Planning and Corporate Law.
Torrence graduated from the University of North Carolina with his B.A. degree in 1985. He then earned his J.D. law degree, also from the University of North Carolina, in 1989.
Torrence is a member of the Gaston County Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the North Carolina State Bar. He is proud to help his clients protect their business, their family, and their future through legal help.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Hailey Hawkins moved to Charlotte after college to teach high school math through Teach for America. While teaching in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system, Hailey met her husband and fell in love with the city. She ultimately decided to attend law school in North Carolina.
Hailey has a strong work ethic and a desire to help others. With her background as a teacher she has developed the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Her goal is to provide the customer service and quality legal advice that clients deserve.
Hailey graduated summa cum laude in the top five percent of her law school class. During law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Board and Law Review, and had the opportunity to intern with the Honorable Graham C. Mullen in Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina.
Hailey is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and the Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina. She is a member of the Gaston County Bar and the North Carolina State Bar Association.
In her free time, Hailey enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughters. She also enjoys baking and spending time outdoors with friends.
James W. Stancil graduated Wake Forest University with a B.A. in 1974 and a Juris Doctor in 1978. He has maintained a law office in Mt. Holly continually since then. His practice has covered many areas of law with a focus on estate and real estate law during the last several years.
He has received the AV rating by the Martindale-Hubble law rating service recognizing the highest excellence in experience and integrity. He has developed a close working relationship with lenders and real estate professionals in the area, and will continue in the daily operations of Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC by providing assistance, advice, and counsel.
He has served on several boards in the local community and enjoys outdoor activities in his spare time.
Joy grew up in Lincolnton, North Carolina and moved to Gaston County in 2001, where she currently resides. She began her legal career as a paralegal for 13 years before becoming a lawyer in 2009. Her more than 25 years of experience in the legal field has served her well in that she has a compassionate client-centered approach to helping individuals and families obtain the best possible outcomes with their family law issues.
Joy graduated with her Masters in Business Administration degree in 2003 and obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 2009. During law school, Joy had interned with the Gaston County Public Defenders' office and for the Honorable Carl Horn, III in the Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina.
Joy is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and the Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina. She is a member of the Gaston County Bar, the North Carolina State Bar, and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Joy is a volunteer attorney with the Gaston County Domestic Violence Legal Clinic through the Gaston County Sheriff's Department and has also handled numerous pro bono cases with Legal Aid of Gastonia in family law related matters.
In her free time, Joy loves spending time with her son, hiking, traveling and attending fitness classes.
Kelly was raised in the mountains of North Carolina and moved to Gaston County in 1991 where she attended Central Piedmont Community College, taking courses in Paralegal Technology. Kelly began her legal career in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina beginning her legal career spanning more than thirty years.
Kelly spends her free time creating art, using acrylic paint, watercolor, and inks, as well as creating garden art through sculpting and stained glass mosaics. She is an avid outdoorsman, who enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.
Kimber Thomas was born and raised in Cherryville, NC. Kimber graduated from Cherryville High school in 2019 and will earn her associates degree in Paralegal Technology at Gaston College.
Kimber strives to make sure that clients have a positive experience even in such stressful times. In her free time, Kimber enjoys riding horses for fun and competitively. When she is not at the barn, she is spending time with family and her other pets.
Mirsada grew up in Georgia where she attended the University of Georgia and earned Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Spanish in 2013, before moving to North Carolina the same year. While in law school in North Carolina, Mirsada met her husband, and moved to Gastonia, where she now resides. During law school, Mirsada participated in a Domestic Violence Clinic and a Wills Practitioner Clinic where she received hands-on experience. She also volunteered with several different pro bono programs providing simple estate planning documents for seniors, first responders, and other members of the community.
After graduating from law school, Mirsada joined the Gaston County Public Defenders' Office as an intern and after being admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 2017, she became an Assistant Public Defender in Gaston County. Mirsada is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the Gaston County Bar Association. She also served as an officer for the Gaston County Bar for four years.
In her free time, Mirsada enjoys spending time with her husband, her daughters, and her pets. She also enjoys working on DIY projects around her home and spending time with friends.
Monica grew up in Southeastern Virginia and relocated to North Carolina in 2016. She currently resides in Mooresville. Monica earned her Paralegal Certificate from UNC Charlotte and holds a BA in Communications from Virginia Wesleyan University. She is also a Certified Associate in Project Management.
Monica has worked solely in real estate where she strives to make a personal connection with all of our clients.
In her free time, Monica enjoys riding horses, traveling with her husband, and playing with her two dogs.
Paige L. Reel was born and raised by her mother in Lincolnton, NC. She continues to live in Lincolnton to this day. Paige graduated from North Lincoln High School in 2010. Helping people and making someone's day a little less stressful makes her happy and keeps her going.
Paige initially attended Gaston College pursuing different career paths. Nine years later, she decided that paralegal work was the perfect fit for her. She is currently attending Gaston College pursuing a degree in Paralegal Technology.
In Paige's free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, lazy days with her husband and four furry children, reading, exploring new areas, and shopping.
Richard Laws is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the Wake Forest School of Law. He has practiced law in Gastonia, North Carolina since 1979, with a concentration on residential and commercial real property. Mr. Laws has closed more than 2,000 home sales in that time and gets great satisfaction from helping his clients achieve their dream of home ownership.
Because of the economic growth being experienced in North Carolina, Mr. Laws has been increasingly involved in commercial real estate transactions, both simple and complicated. He is pleased to also offer his services to clients in the commercial world.
Mr. Laws is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, and is a member of both the Gaston County Bar and North Carolina State Bar Association. He loves to help clients make their dreams become reality through the world of real estate.
Sandra Davermann was born and raised in Queens, New York. She moved to North Carolina to pursue her legal career in the Trusts & Estates practice area and to create a better life for herself. Sandra graduated with a Bachelors in Sociology from SUNY Stony Brook, Masters in Criminology & Justice from St. John's University, and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Sandra is licensed to practice law in New York and North Carolina and is a member of the Gaston County Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar Association- Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section.
In her spare time, Sandra enjoys dancing, watching NBA basketball, and attending concerts.
Sara was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina with her parents and younger brother. She graduated from Forestview High School in 2009 and earned her Associate's in Applied Science in 2017 from Gaston College. Sara has worked solely in family law since 2016.
Her top priority is to help the attorney in making sure the client's experience is a positive one. She is passionate about helping clients during stressful situations.
In her free time, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, shopping, going to the rodeo, watching Disney movies, and reading.
Stephen was born in Charlotte and raised in Mount Holly. After being admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in April 2014, Stephen saw the need for affordable legal services in his community and opened his own law office in Mount Holly.
Stephen attended Appalachian State University where he was an active member in the Appalachian State Marching Band and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with a Minor in German in 2009.
He earned his Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law in 2013, where he was a founding member of the Elon Law Pro Bono Board, interned with Legal Aid of North Carolina, and externed with the Alamance County District Attorney's Office.
Stephen is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, and is a member of both the Gaston County Bar and North Carolina State Bar Association.
When Stephen is not in the office or in court, he is spending time with his husband, playing the saxophone with the Charlotte Pride Band, helping with Mount Holly Rotary Club, staying active at the YMCA, and hiking the trails at Crowder's Mountain.
Job Titles:
- Retired Superior Court Judge
Timothy L. Patti was a superior court judge for the 27A Judicial District of North Carolina. Judge Patti retired in 2010. Since then, he has focused on bringing a steady and reliable approach to mediation.
Judge Patti graduated magna cum laude from Belmont Abbey College in 1976. He graduated with his J.D. degree from Campbell College School of Law in 1979. Throughout his entire career, he has taken the pursuit of justice seriously. Through mediation, he takes pride in helping clients find solutions to their legal issues.